Ashaiman Accident: Nine Hawkers Arrested

Aftermath of the unfortunate accident at Ashaiman township last week, the Assembly took upon themselves measures to prevent future occurrences, one of which is to suspend all related selling activities at the roads side to make way for operations inside the market available for the hawkers.

Hawkers within the Ashaiman Municipality are known for selling on the streets of almost every major road in the area, and several attempts to get them off have proven futile.

Most of the roads in the busy parts of Ashaiman particularly around the main lorry terminal and the market area, as well as the major traffic intersection, have become very narrow because traders have taken over, making it difficult for both cars and humans to move freely.

So far from the operation being exhibited on board, Nine traders has been arrested for punting deaf ears to the new development in the municipality. The nine are to be put before court as part of the Assembly’s plans to ensure sanity on the streets to serve as a deter-ant for others.

They were arrested for flouting the Assembly’s directive that bars traders from selling their wares at unauthorized spots except in the market.

The prosecutor for the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Mr. Katey George, said the Assembly will pursue this matter to serve as a deterrent to other traders.

“They are using the Public Health Act and the maximum fine is Ghc3,000 and the lowest is Ghc1,200 when they are found guilty. We have appealed to their conscience several times, we have talked to them but they will not listen. The way forward is that we will not stop” he said.

According to him, the Assembly has no plans of providing the street hawkers with additional space for trading.